"'ZANI 'NKOMO."
Kaffir herd-boy sings:—
Bright blooms the sun on the grass-glad meadow,
Bright blooms the sun in the fern-fond rill;
Sun-rays dart thro' the dream-haunted woodland,
Sunbeams laugh on valley and hill.
'Zani 'nkomo,[1] whee-ou-whoo, come along my cattle;
Whee-ou-whoo, come to the green hillside;
Linger as ye list in cool, quiet grass-glades,
From white morn to wan eventide.
Deep in the dim woods I'll wander thro' the daytime,
Feasting on honey and juicy roots;
Happy as a hill-cloud I'll wander thro' the woodlands,
Feasting at will on wild-wood fruits.
'Zani 'nkomo, whee-ou-whoo, with my dog and gqudu,[2]
Swift thro' the woods will I chase the birds that fly;
Swift thro' the woods will I hunt the nimble 'mpunsi,[3]
All thro' the day till night draws nigh.
Slow sinks the sun on cloud-claspt hill-tops,
Still shadows creep from the nest of night;
Slow sinks the sun, and only on the hill-tops
Now may be seen the lilies of night.
'Zani 'nkomo, whee-ou-whoo, come along, my cattle;
Swift to ub'hlanti,[4] milking-time has come.
'Zani 'nkomo, whee-ou-whoo, come on, my cattle;
Come along, dear ones, come on home.
